The House of Goonery

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I am, indeed, still alive. I miss everyone and miss updating this blog every day, so I hope to be back soon on a regular basis.

Blessings,
WonderGoon

Today is the day I go offline. If things go according to plan, I will be disassembling this computer in a few hours and reassembling it in my new home tommorow. I will not, however, have Internet access for sometime. Therefore, those who read this blog will have to content themselves with my archives until I return.

Farewell all. I hope to see you soon.

This is WonderGoon, signing off. . . . .

E. Gary Gygax 1938-2008
E. Gary Gygax

Dungeons & Dragons creator E. Gary Gygax died Tuesday. I just found this out today, almost a week after the fact. I want to take the time to share my personal Gary Gygax story with you. It’s not a good story, nor is it very impressive. It is, however, mine.

Sometime during the mid ’90’s, I was invited by a friend of mine to help playtest the new RPG Dangerous Journey’s, created by Gary Gygax. Needles to say, I jumped at the chance to play test it. I went along with my friend to the first session (first for me, at any rate) and made up a playtest character named Chuck D. Weamercrafter.

I remember the characters name because at the time there was a rapper named Chuck D. (At least, I think there was a rapper named Chuck D. I remember the character, but not the rapper.) and I think I had just seen an episode of Yo! MTV Raps! (Yeah, I watched that show. Don’t laugh.)

Anyway, we had a good time with the playtest and later that year, we went to Dragon*Con (a local converntion held every year in Atlanta; click here for more information on Dragon*Con) to promote the new game at the convention. During that convention, I was invited to a party held for the playtesters and the higher ups at the company that was publishing the Dangerous Journey’s game (though, in all honety, I don’t remember the company).

Amongst the attendents was one E. Gary Gygax and his lovely wife Gail, who said not one word to me the entire time. In all honety, I was too, scared, and I guess, nervous, to say anything to him. Gygax was a legend amongst Gamers, and not someone you casually go up to to talk about your latest exploits in the Tomb of Horrors, or how while in the Village of Hommlet, you killed sixteen first level player characters in one sitting (a story that is still talked about around our gaming table!)

No, I simply nodded to him, and he nodded back. There was no exchange of pleasantries beyond the simple greeting. I’m sure he quickly forgot me. But, I never forgot him. He created something which I am not afraid to say I still play today.

I started playing Dungeons & Dragons in the Summer of 1982. I was 11 years old and my brother and I were visiting my dad and grandparents in Reno, Nevada. There was a kid across the street named Kevin who had all the D&D books. We played in his garage while my dad was at work (he didn’t want us playing; he thought it was stupid. Not evil, mind, just childish and dumb.) We were rebellious children, though, and we never listened. Lucky me.

My first character was chosen, not with an eye for effectiveness, which would come much later, but with and eye for logic. It set the stage, I see now, for a lot of my characters to come. The first character was a Human Fighter (back then, only humans could be a fighter, a cleric, a magic-user, or a thief; all the other races were also classes) though I don’t remember his name. Fighters at that time rolled the largest die for hit points; a d8. I remember I had a pretty decent Constitution score, so I wanted losts of hit points so I could hang in a fight longer. That move payed off later when I watched my brothers character, an elf, get slaughtered by a pair of skeletons. (The elf class rolled a d6 for hit points, so he had less than I did.)

We had great fun playing the game and that fun continued into my adult life. It shaped who I am today and my thought proccesses, the values I hold, and the imagination I have. All because E. Gary Gygax created a simple game for the entertainment of millions of geeks everywhere.

Without E. Gary Gygax, I would’ve had a very boring childhood and a worse adulthood. I’ve met a lot of good friends, both real and imagined, because of a small red box with with artwork by someone named Erol Otus on the cover. (Erol Otus’ art was iconic in and of itself).

So, from me, and all my alter ego’s, Farewell Dungeon Master. May Bahumat welcome you warmly in the Seven Heavens. Save a place for me at the Celestial Gaming Table.

Signed,
WonderGoon, Tel’Avin, Rikus Soth, Thenin Ravenbeard, Janwyn Bloodblade, Flavius of Mythus, Ylum of the Vale, Gowron Bard of Ill Repute, Lord Kregstan, Loreseeker, Kivan, Illbrahn, Torg, Kelrissa, Pryntor, The Songster, and all the many hundreds of NPC’s of all the various campaigns I’ve run.

Thought I should pass this on. Thanks to Aeroh for posting it in the GLBT Forum on Pagan Nation.

I agree with Ellen when she says check out who you are voting for and if you don’t like what they have to say, change your vote! It’s YOUR voice, let it ring out and empower you.

It’s time to get off your ass, put down the remote control, turn off the TV reality shows, and change your country for the better. Don’t count on those who you don’t trust (and just bitch about behind their backs), to do it for you; they won’t! If you want positive change, then VOTE!

Follow one of these links (or better, ALL OF THEM) and find a canidate that you can agree with:

Barack Obama
Hillary Clinton
John McCain

Freedom or slavery. Your choice.

Today I spoke with two old friends I’ve not seen in several years. The first friend called me to tell me about a new online RPG called Champions Online (Champions Online). I’ve played Champions as a pen and paper RPG for many years now, so I am quite excited to be able to play it online, as well.

This same friend has advanced Crohn’s Disease. He was recently in the hospital for the removal of his colon. So now he has a section of his intestines hanging out of his stomach. He does appear to be in good spirits, though, as he can joke when he said “My ass is purely decorative now.” I couldn’t help but laugh at the comment.

My second friend sent me an IM and we chatted for a time. He’s doing well and is looking forward to early retirement. He’s nowhere near early retirement; he’s just looking forward to it.

That was my day. Pretty standard, really. Nothing to out of the ordinary. For those keeping up with my move, things are still being packed. I have a lot of stuff.

Thanks for stopping by.
Goon

Animator vs Animation

When you click on the link, you’ll see a Play button. Once you click the Play button, don’t move the mouse. This is a very cool bit of animation.

Goon

This is just to let everyone know who regularly reads this blog, that I am still alive and well. I’m in the process of moving my household to a new house (a REAL house! Whoo hoo!) and that is consuming a LOT of my time.

I apologize for not updating this blog on a regular basis. My intention is to have one update per day for a solid month. I think that would be grand.

I am going to try my hand at a webcomic, I think. The art will be horrid, I assure you, but hopefully, the story will be engaging and keep you coming back for more. I’ll be passing along more information on this as it develops.

I detest Michael Vick. The less said about that “man” the better.

This is the fifth of a series of entries dealing with my growing spirituality. These posts are designed with a “evolving thoughts” theme, meaning I am using this space to get my thoughts in order and come up with a solid foundation to stand on for my continued spiritual development. What I say here will change and will do so without notice or apology.

In this installment of the wildley popular (yeah, right!) Crossroads Series, I will share my thoughts on the Coven vs Solitary argument.

One may gleen from my previous posts in this series that I am not a member of a coven. This is true. One may also gleen that I do not like covens, this is also true, as I think of covens as organizations, like established Christian churches, who practice in a way that I do not. I have little patience or respect for organized religon.

Please notice I said “in a way I do not.” I am not, in any way, defaming or making derogetory statements about covens or those who are members of them, I am simply stating that I prefer to not participate in the coven atmosphere.

My reasoning is simple: I prefer a worship session which is private, as I feel that religon is a deeply personal experience, so much so that I do not share it with anyone else. Not even my wife, to a large degree, though we speak about religous topics, rituals, etcetera, we rarely, if ever (in fact only once have we) done a ritual together.

I am simply uncomfortable with the concept of sharing my religous experience with others. For me, this is an honest assessment of my personal situation. For you, it may very well be different.

The whole argument comes down to this: If YOU want to be a member of a coven, then find one you are comfortable with and that you get along with, and join up. If not, don’t. Simple.

This argument closely resembles, and is connected to, the argument of what is a “real” (fill in the blank). I’ve heard it said that if you were not initiated by a Wiccan who can trace her lineage straight back to Gerald Gardner then you are not a “real” Wiccan. I’ve also heard it said that if you are not initiated into an established Tradition, then you are not a “real” Wiccan.

Bullocks.

The path of a solitary is meant to be one of true self discovery. Its a path frought with challenge, that only the most strong-willed of practioners should undertake. You are literally out there on the pointy end making stuff up as you go, or learning form others in the form of books.

What about when the books run out or if you don’t agree with them? What then? Do you make it up? Will you recieve messages “from on high,” as if the Gods of Old are talking to you and no other? Or do you just fumble along like everyone else?

I fumble. I can admit that because I am honest with myself. Maybe that’s the true lesson in any belief system. Honesty with oneself. “To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” -William Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet.

This is what you must be; true to yourself. Chose what is best for you and follow it to its logical conclusion. Everything else will come out in the wash.

OTHER POSTS IN THIS SERIES
Previous: The Inclusion of Magick
Next: The (Il)Logic of Deities: Creationism vs Scientific Fact

One year a go today was the worst day for me in a long time. My Wife and I lost our Min Pin, Lexi, to diabeties. I held her and my Wife was with her in her last moments as she left this world. It was the sadest thing I’ve ever done.

I comfort myself knowing she’s in a better place. That she’s happier and healthier where she is. Her spirit can frolic amongst the tall grasses where cheese grows on low hanging branches and there is always something to eat and fresh water to drink.

I miss her so much, but I have to go on. I’ve got two other dogs and two cats who depend on us to take care of them.

I miss you, Lexi. I’ll never forget you.